From a young age I grew up Texas marsh fishing in the waters of Port O’Connor. I remember my father teaching me everything he knows. From rigging, to navigating, types of boats, how to drive them, rules and bag limits, and most importantly where to fish.
Every addicted saltwater angler has their favorite thing on the water. Do you enjoy chasing schooling trout? After the notorious “gator trout”? Redfisherman? Or are you the saddle blanket guy?
Well don’t get me wrong, I love all the types of fishing listed above. But I often get asked, “if you had to choose one fish to catch out of the marsh what would it be?” To answer this question, I’ll need some time. So over the course of two articles, I’ll lay out the ecstasy-like feeling each provides, based on the list above, then finish with my crown jewel.
Schooling trout
There’s nothing better than drifting or wading into a school of box trout! That non-stop action of yanking in yellow mouths to throw in the fish bag or your “sponsored” Trout team Yeti fish box (trout automatically become team Yeti when they make it into my fish box). But as much as it’s great for your next fish fry and that “limits bro” Instagram picture, I enjoy an intense fight along with the sound of peeling drag when I’m on the water. And those schooling trout just don’t consistently provide that feeling…
Gator Trout
Ask any true Texas coast fishermen, the one question, What’s your biggest trout? If their answer is over 30”, show them respect. These fish are elusive, intelligent, are challenging to catch, and demand respect. When they hit, hold on! They will make that reel sing and act like a Tarpon while they do anything they can to spit the hook. They can be found all over the coast but are most prevalent in Baffin Bay and in the surf. Winter months tend to produce the best results using a Paul Brown corky lure fished slow and the summertime produces favorable conditions for chasing the surf trout by using free lined croaker.
Sidebar – I highly recommend surf fishing if you have not done it before. But do your research as It can be dangerous… maybe I will put together a follow up article on this topic. After all this you’re probably wondering, what My biggest trout to date is? 28” out of Port Mansfield, TX. And yes, I am still on the hunt to make the thirty-inch club but that is not my priority when my boat hits the water.
